Spike pulling apparatus



March 16, 1965 D. s. HlGGlNS SPIKE PULLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1965 INVENTOR.

DONALD S. HIGGINS ATTORN EYS March 16, 1965 D. s. HlGGiNS SPIKE PULLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 14, 1963 INVENTOR DONALD s. HlGGlNS ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,173,657 SPIKE PULLING APPARATUS Donald S. Higgins, 1435 28th Ave., San Francisco, Calif. Filed May 14, 1963, Ser. No. 280,249 9 Claims. ((Il. 254-21) This invention relates to apparatus for pulling spikes from timbers which spikes are typically used to join timbers in bridges, trestles and the like.

Spikes having diameters up to one inch or more are used in joining structural timbers in the construction of trestles and bridges. An exemplary application is the joining of two 16 inch timbers by a spike having a length of 24 inches and a diameter of about Vs of an inch. During construction, and particularly during demolition of such structures, it becomes necessary to remove such spikes from the timbers in order to permit reuse of the timbers.

The present invention provides apparatus for removing such spikes which apparatus is extremely sturdy, easy to construct and to use, and rapid in operation.

The specific embodiment of the invention described herein includes a complex lever system having a first lever arm with spike gripping jaws mounted therein and a member for supporting the first lever arm for pivotal movement relative to the surface of the timber in which the spike is disposed. To the end of the first lever arm remote from the pivot point is pivotally secured a second lever arm that has a member also adapted for bearing on the surface of the timber to afford pivotal movement of the second lever arm. The second lever arm has a long handle, movement of which causes the first lever arm to pivot upwardly so that the spike gripping jaws withdraw the spike from the timber.

An object of the invention is to provide spike pulling apparatus which securely grips a spike to effect removal of the spike from a timber. This object is achieved by providing spike gripping jaws with confronting edges that are urged toward one another in response to upward movement of the jaws. Thus, as the energy required for withdrawing the spike increases, the gripping force of the jaws on the spike increases.

Another object of the present invention is to multiply the force exerted by one man to an amount sufficient to effect removal of a spike. Attainment of this objective is made possible by providing a first lever arm which has a mechanical advantage of about two and a second lever arm which has a mechanical advantage of about fifty or more. Thus, removal of large spikes from timbers becomes a one man operation by use of the present inventron.

Still another object is to provide a spike puller wherein energy losses due to friction are minimized. This object is implemented by providing rollers at the fulcrum points of the two lever arms which allows each of the lever arms to move both pivotally and translationally with little or no energy loss from friction.

Yet another object is to provide apparatus for pulling spikes which apparatus is useful on spikes of different diameters. Accomplishment of this objective is attained by providing a cradle that supports one of the spike gripping jaws in which cradle the jaw fits relatively loosely. The jaw can be removed and replaced by a jaw of a different size or in the alternative the jaw can be moved closer to the opposite jaw by placing one or more shims in the jaw supporting cradle.

These and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side-elevational view of the present invention in a position preparatory to pulling a spike;

3,173,552 Patented Mar. 16, I965 ice FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 with the apparatus positioned at the end of a spike pulling stroke;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an end cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIGURE 2 showing a shim in place in the jaw supporting cradle;

FIGURE 6 is a partial side-elevational view showing in detail the structure for effecting removal of one of the spike gripping jaws;

FIGURE 7 is a partial side view of a modification of the invention useful in removing headed spikes; and

FIGURE 8 is a top view taken along line 88 of FIG- URE 7.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the apparatus of the present invention includes a first lever arm A having spike gripping jaws B intermediate the ends thereof and a surface bearing structure C at one end thereof constituting a fulcrum for the first lever arm. To the opposite end of lever arm A a second lever arm D is pivotally secured, which second lever arm has a surface bearing structure E that forms a fulcrum for the second lever arm. A spike S protruding from the surface of a timber T or like body is engaged by jaws B and is drawn from the timber by upward movement of lever arm A as a consequence of downward movement of lever arm D.

Lever arm A is formed by two elongate members 12 and 14 secured in parallel spaced apart relation by transverse spacers 16 and 18. Elongate members 12 and 14 are spaced apart by an amount sufficient to receive spike S therebetween. Intermediate the ends of lever arm A is a fixed spike gripping jaw 20 which is secured in the space between the parallel elongate members. Gripping jaw 20 has an upper surface 22 and a lower sloped surface 24- which converge at edge 26 to form a spike engaging edge. Gripping jaw 20 is preferably made of steel hardened sufficiently to indent the surface of spike S and is preferably secured between elongate members 12 and 14 by welding.

Spaced rightwardly of gripping jaw 20, as viewed in the figures, is a member 30 which defines a cradle 32 for securing a second spike gripping jaw 34. Jaw 34 has an upper surface 36 and a lower sloped surface 38 which converge at edge 40 for engaging the spike. Cradle 32 is wider than the thickness of jaw 34 to permit generally pivotal movement of the latter between a spike gripping position, best shown in FIGURE 2, and a position permitting sliding movement between the jaw and spikes, as best shown in FIGURE 1. As can be seen in FIGURE 2, edges 26 and 49 are spaced from one another by an amount slightly less than the diameter of the spike when jaw 34 is in the spike gripping position. I have found that a lathe cutting tool serves admirably for gripping jaw 34.

A leaf spring 42 is secured at one end thereof to spacer 1S and serves to urge jaw 34 toward the spike gripping position. Spring 42 is sufficiently resilient, however, to permit upward pivotal movement of jaw 34 when lever arm A is moved toward timber T. To permit ready removal of gripping jaw 34, I provide a cam member 44 in engagement with the lower surface of spring 42. A shaft 46 journaled in elongate members 12 and 14 supports cam member 44 and has a handle 48 to permit rotary movement of the shaft. Thus, movement of handle 48 to the position shown in FIGURE 6 releases spring 42 from gripping jaw 34 and thus permits ready removal of the latter. Such removal is required for replacement or sharpening of the gripping jaw.

Extending downwardly from one end of lever arm A is a bifurcated yoke 50 for securing a shaft 52 upon which a roller 54 is mounted for rotation. With roller 54 resting 14 for pivotally securing second lever arm D between of spring 42.

The spike removal then proceeds as described above.

elongate members 12 .and 14. Extendingdownwardly from lever arm D isa bifurcated yoke 62 which .s'ecurespa shaft .64 upon 1' which is rotatably' mounted a roller, 6.6. The angle definedbetween yoke 62 and lever armD in conjunction with'the distance from pivot pin60 toshaft 64 are adapted to provide the required mechanical advantage as well as sufficient movement of lever arm A to y afford a practical spike pulling stroke. The over-all length of lever ann Diis preferably between five and six feet; lever arm D is provided at the free end thereof with a reduceddiameter portion 68 upon which a pipe or similar tubular object. can be placed for increasing the length of V the lever arm.

The operation of the invention is as follows. The apparatus is placed over a spike withthe spike disposedbetween elongate members-12 and 14 and between spike gripping jaws and 34 Because leaf spring 42 permits gripping jaw 34 to yield upwardly, the apparatus canbe slid down the spike until rollers '54 and 66 rest on the surface of timber T. Thefree end of. lever arm D is raised to bring the apparatusinto the position shown in FIGURE 1. The free' end of'handle D is then pulled downwardly, whereupon edges 26 and .4 0 of the jaws engage, the spike. Jaw 34 .pivots to the left asjviewed in FIGURE 2 until it contacts-the upwardly facing surface offcradle 32. The jaws are now-in spike gripping posi-.

7 While one embodiment of my invention has been-shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications can be made; without departing from the true spirit and scopeof the invention,

What is claimed'is:

"1. Apparatus for pulling a spike from a body-which spike partially protrudes from thesurface of the body comprising means for. gripping the spike; means. forming a first elongate leverarm having first, and'second ends, said first lever arm defining a spike receiving :opening therethrough intermediate said ends, said gripping means being secured to saidfirst lever arm for gripping a spike extending through saidopening, means for supporting said first lever arm forming means at said first' end for affording pivotal movementlof said. lever relative to the body surface, a second elongate lever pivotally secured to. said first lever at said second end thereof, and meanse'xtending from said second lever proximate the site of pivotal securement for bearing on the body surface andforming a ful- 'crum-for said second lever to pivot.

2. Apparatus for pulling a spike that produces from the surfaceof a body comprising a pair of elongate members disposed in parallel relation for defining a first lever arm, said elongate membersbeing spaced apart by: an'amount sufficient to permit entry of the spike tion, and further downward ,movement of the free end. of lever arm' D will cause the spike S to be withdrawn from the timber. When the end of the stroke is reached, that is, when the free end of lever arm D can be lowered no more, the free end is again raised, whereupon thegripping jaws move downwardly relative to spike S because spring 42 yields to permit upwardly pivotal movement of gripping jaw 34; The above procedure is continued until the spike is free of timber T.

The presence of rollers 54 and 66. expedite the foregoing operations in thatLeach time a stroke is made the rollers are moved toward one another to eifect the spike pulling stroke. 'Because both pivotal and translational movement are afforded by the rollers, loss of force due to T is virtually eliminated.

The sliding movement of edge 4i) over the surface. of

members for gripping the spike in response to movement of said first lever. arm away from the body surface, means fixed to one end of said first lever armforaifo'rding pivotal movement thereof relative said surface, whereby upward pivotal movement of said first arm causes said gripping means to raise vthe spike from said body, and a second lever arm pivotally secured at one .end thereof, to said first lever arm. at the end thereof re,- mote from said pivotal movement, affording means, said second lever arm having a projection extending therefromat a point proximate the axis of pivotal securement for hearing. onthe body surface to afford-pivotal movement of said secondlever arm, whereby pivotal movement of said second lever arm pivots said gripping meanstoward and away from the body surface thereby to pull the spike from the body.

- the endsof said arm an opening'for receiving said spike,

spike S each time the apparatus is moved downwardly relative to the spike causes Wear on the edge. Therefore} gripping jaw 34 must be periodically removed for grinding to restore edge 40. The reduction in length of gripping jaw 34 caused by such grinding is compensated for by placement of a suitable shim 70in the bottom of cradle 32 inorder that edge 40 be positioned relative edge 26 of gripping jaw 20 to properly grip spike S. Shim 70 may also be used to adapt theapparatus for use on-spikes of smaller diameter.

A modification of the present. invention is depicted in FIGURES 7 and 8 and adapts the apparatus for use on spikes of larger. diameter or with. enlarged heads on the upper end thereof. In the modified apparatus, elongate members 12 and 14 which form lever, arm A are spaced apart by an amount greater than that shown in FIGURE 3. Spike gripping jaw 20' spans the space between the elongate members and forms a spike engaging edge 26. Spaced from jaw 20' is a structure 3i) forming a cradle 32 for supporting a gripping jaw 34. Spacers 72 and 74 are secured to elongate members 12' and 14'-respectively to provide lateral support to gripping jaw 34'- In operation, this modification is identical with the operation hereinabove described. The apparatus is placed" over a spike s having an enlarged head H thereon and gripping jaw 34f yields upwardly due to theresiliency members disposed in means secured to one end of said arm for hearing on said surface to afford pivotal and translational movement .of said first lever arm relative to said.;surface, means extending into said opening for gripping said spike, only upon pivotal movement of said first lever arm away from the surface, and a second lever arm pivotally attached to said first leverarm at a site' rer mote from said opening and from said surface bearing means, said second lever arm having means extending therefrom at. a site proximate to the axis of pivotal attachment for hearing onthe surface to afford pivotal and translational movement of said secondflever' arm relative to the surface, wherebyvmovement of the free end of said second lever arm toward the surface causes movement of said bearing means toward one another and movement of saidfirst arm away from the. surface as a consequence of which the. gripping means grips and withdraws the spike from the body. 7 i

4. Apparatus for pulling spikes that protrude from the surface of a bodycomprising a pair of elongate.

parallel relation for defining a first lever arm, means fixed to one end of said elongate members for affording pivotal and translational movement of said first lever 'arm'relative to the' body surface, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart edge forming members secured 'to said elongate members in confronting relation for gripping saidspike therebetween, one of said edgeforming members beingjadapted for substantially pivotal movement between a spike gripping position in response to movement of said first lever arm away from the body surface and a position permitting free movement of said lever arm relative said spike in response to movement of said lever arm toward said body surface, and means for alternately moving the end of said first lever arm remote from said pivotal and translational movement affording means toward and away from said body surface, whereby the spike is pulled from the body each time said first lever arm is moved away from said body surface by said moving means.

5. Apparatus for pulling a spike that protrudes from the surface of a body comprising a pair of elongate members spaced apart by an amount sufficient to permit free entry of the spike therebetween, means secured to one end of said elongate members for bearing on the body surface to afford pivotal and translational move ment of said elongate members relative to the body surface, first and second longitudinally spaced apart spike gripping jaws disposed between said elongate members intermediate the ends of said elongate members, said first gripping jaw being fixedly secured between said elongate members and forming a spike gripping edge, means fixedly secured between said elongate members defining a cradle for supporting said second jaw to afford pivotal movement thereof between a spike gripping position in response to movement of said jaws away from the body surface and a position permitting movement of said second jaw relative said spike in response to movement of said jaws toward the body surface, means for biasing said second jaw to the spike gripping position, and a lever arm pivotally secured to said elongate members at the ends thereof opposite said bearing means for effecting movement of said gripping means toward and away from the body surface.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 in combination with means for selectively positioning the other said gripping jaw in said cradle for accommodating spikes of different diameters.

7. Apparatus for pulling a spike from a body which spike partially protrudes from a body comprising a pair of elongate members spaced apart sufficiently to permit entry of the spike therebetween, means forming a pair of confronting spike engaging edges transversely of the space between said elongate members and intermediate the ends thereof, each said edge forming means having an upper surface generally perpendicular to the spike and a lower surface diverging outwardly from said edge,

means for resiliently pivotaiiy mounting one of said edge forming means to afford free movement of said edge forming means relative to said spike in response to movement of said edge forming means toward the body surface and to afford engagement of said edge forming means with the spike in response to movement of said edge forming means away from the body surface, a first roller secured to one end of said elongate members for bearing on the body surface to afford pivotal and translational movement of said elongate members relative to the body surface, a lever arm pivotally secured to said elongate members at the end thereof remote from said first roller, said lever having a bifurcated extension protruding therefrom at a site proximate the point of pivotal securement to said elongate members, a second roller pivotally secured between the *furcations of said extension for affording pivotal and translational movement of said lever arm relative to the body surface, thereby to move said edge forming means toward and away from the body surface in response to pivotal movement of said lever arm.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said edge forming means mounting means comprises means for defining a cradle between said elongate members, said cradle being sufficiently wide to permit pivotal movement of one of said edge forming means therein and a leaf spring secured at one end thereof to said elongate members, the other end of said spring engaging the edge forming means in said cradle to urge said edge forming means in said cradle toward the other said edge forming means and into engagement with said spike.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in combination with an eccentric cam mounted for engagement with said spring and a shaft for rotatably mounting said cam relative to said elongate members, whereby rotation of said shaft releases said spring from engagement with said edge forming means to permit removal of said edge forming means from said cradle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 232,703 Gerald Sept. 28, 1880 1,103,767 Henrickson July 14, 1914 1,302,134 Claypool Apr. 29, 1919 2,001,868 Crandall May 21, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 263,737 Switzerland Dec. 1, 1949 

1. APPARATUS FOR PULLING A SPIKE FROM A BODY WHICH SPIKE PARTIALLY PROTRUDES FROM THE SURFACE OF THE BODY COMPRISING MEANS FOR GRIPPING THE SPIKE, MEANS FORMING A FIRST ELONGATE LEVER ARM HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ENDS, SAID FIRST LEVER ARM DEFINING A SPIKE RECEIVING OPENING THERETHROUGH INTERMEDIATE SAID ENDS, SAID GRIPPING MEANS BEING SECURED TO SAID FIRST LEVER ARM FOR GRIPPING A SPIKE EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID FIRST LEVER ARM FORMING MEANS AT SAID FIRST END FOR AFFORDING PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER RELATIVE TO THE BODY SURFACE, THE SECOND ELONGATE LEVER PIVOTALLY SECURED TO SAID FIRST LEVER AT SAID SECOND END THEREOF, AND MEANS EXTENDING FROM SAID SECOND LEVER PROXIMATE THE SITE OF PIVOTAL SECUREMENT FOR BEARING ON THE BODY SURFACE AND FORMING A FULCRUM FOR SAID SECOND LEVER TO PIVOT. 